Polity Part 1 Basis of Polity

1. Historical Background (ऐतिहासिक पृष्ठभूमि)

🔹 Quick Definition

The Indian Constitution (भारतीय संविधान) is not a sudden creation. It is a result of British rule, freedom struggle, and Indian leaders’ vision.

🔹 Detailed Explanation

• Before 1947, India was under British colonial rule.

• Several Acts by the British shaped our administration:

  • Regulating Act, 1773 → First step of Parliamentary control in India.

  • Pitt’s India Act, 1784 → Dual control (Company + British Govt.).

  • Charter Acts (1833, 1853) → Centralization of power, introduced civil services.

  • Government of India Act, 1858 → After 1857 Revolt, British Crown directly ruled India.

  • Indian Councils Acts (1861, 1892) → Indians given limited role in legislation.

  • Morley-Minto Reforms (1909) → Introduced communal representation.

  • Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) → Dyarchy in provinces.

  • Government of India Act, 1935 → Blueprint of Indian Constitution (federal scheme, provincial autonomy, RBI, PSC).

  • Indian Independence Act, 1947 → Created two dominions (India & Pakistan).

🔹 Analogy / Story

Think of the Constitution like a “big building.”

• Regulating Act = Foundation stone

• Charter Acts = Walls being built

• GOI Act 1935 = Full blueprint of the building

• Independence Act 1947 = Key handed over to Indians

🔹 Table (Exam-Oriented)

2. Making of the Constitution (संविधान निर्माण)

🔹 Quick Definition

The Constituent Assembly (संविधान सभा) drafted the Indian Constitution between 1946–1950.

🔹 Detailed Explanation

• Constituent Assembly formed under Cabinet Mission Plan (1946).

• Members: 389 (later 299 after Partition).

• Dr. Rajendra Prasad = President of Assembly.

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar = Chairman, Drafting Committee (called Father of Indian Constitution).

• Took 2 years 11 months 18 days to complete.

• Adopted on 26 November 1949, came into force on 26 January 1950 (chosen because 1930 Purna Swaraj Declaration Day).

🔹 Analogy

Imagine writing a giant rulebook for a cricket tournament. Players (citizens) + Umpires (Judiciary) + Captain (PM) + Owner (President) → all roles defined in advance. That’s what Constituent Assembly did.

Expanined in Deep

1️⃣ HISTORICAL BACKGROUND — English & हिन्दी (गहन — deep)

🔹 Quick definition — English

The historical background of the Indian Constitution is the process by which political institutions, legal frameworks and constitutional ideas evolved in India under Company rule and Crown rule, through reform Acts, nationalist movements and the blueprint provided by the Government of India Act, 1935 — culminating in the Constituent Assembly which drafted the Constitution after independence.

🔹 संक्षेप (Quick) — हिन्दी

भारतीय संविधान की ऐतिहासिक पृष्ठभूमि में ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी से लेकर ब्रिटिश क्राउन तक की शासन व्यवस्था, विभिन्न सुधार अधिनियम (Acts), राष्ट्रीय आंदोलन और 1935 के Government of India Act जैसे प्रारूप शामिल हैं — जिनसे स्वतंत्रता के बाद संविधान के निर्माण का रास्ता बना।

🔹 Detailed chronology & explanation — English (deep)

A. Company Rule & Early Constitutional Steps (18th–19th century)

• Regulating Act, 1773: First Parliamentary control over Company; Governor-General of Bengal (Warren Hastings) & Supreme Court (Calcutta).

• Pitt’s India Act, 1784: Established dual control (Court of Directors + Board of Control) — early form of British state control.

• Charter Acts (1813, 1833, 1853): Gradual centralisation of administration; opening civil services, changes to Company monopoly.

B. Revolt of 1857 → Crown Rule

• The 1857 Revolt led to Government of India Act, 1858: Company rule ended; Secretary of State for India in London; Viceroy of India created. This marks start of formal British Crown administration.

C. Representative Experiments & Reforms (late 19th — early 20th c.)

• Indian Councils Acts (1861, 1892): Limited legislative councils with advisory/nominal Indian participation.

• Morley-Minto Reforms (1909): Separate electorates for Muslims → beginning of communal representation.

• Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms (1919): Dyarchy in provinces (transferred & reserved subjects); limited self-government.

D. Interwar Developments, National Movement & Constitutionalism

• Simon Commission (1927) → all-Indian reaction; Nehru Report (1928); Round Table Conferences (1930s); Poona Pact (1932) (Dalit representation compromise).

• Government of India Act, 1935: The single most important British statute influencing India’s Constitution — it provided (a) provincial autonomy, (b) federal scheme (Centre, Provinces, Residuary powers), (c) bicameralism at Centre, (d) creation of Federal Court (later Supreme Court), (e) elements like All-India Services, Public Service Commissions, RBI. Many constitutional features and schedules were adopted/modified from this Act.

E. Road to Independence (WWII → 1946 Cabinet Mission → 1947 Independence)

• WWII, Quit India (1942), post-war negotiations → Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) proposed a Constituent Assembly elected by provincial assemblies to draft a constitution.

• Indian Independence Act, 1947 partitioned British India into India & Pakistan, created independent Dominions; Constituent Assemblies became the framers for respective countries.

🔹 विस्तार — हिन्दी (deep)

A. कंपनीकाल एवं प्रारम्भिक कदम (18वीं–19वीं सदी)

• Regulating Act, 1773: कंपनी पर ब्रिटिश संसद की पहली नियंत्रण कोशिश — कलकत्ता में सुप्रीम कोर्ट और बंगाल के गवर्नर-जनरल।

• Pitt’s Act, 1784: कंपनी और ब्रिटिश सरकार के बीच दोहरे नियंत्रण (dual control)।

• Charter Acts (1813, 1833, 1853): कंपनी का व्यापारिक एकाधिकार घटा; सिविल सेवा की शुरूआत व केंद्रीयकरण।

B. 1857 का विद्रोह → क्राउन शासन

• 1857 के बाद Government of India Act, 1858 से कंपनी शासन खत्म और ब्रिटिश क्राउन द्वारा शासित व्यवस्था आई — Secretary of State (London) और Viceroy की पद-व्यवस्था बनी।

C. प्रतिनिधित्व और सुधार (19वीं–20वीं शताब्दी)

• Indian Councils Acts: सीमित भारतीय प्रतिनिधित्व।

• Morley-Minto (1909): मुसलमानों के लिए अलग निर्वाचक मंडल (separate electorates)।

• Montagu–Chelmsford (1919): प्रान्तों में डायार्की (Dyarchy) — कुछ विषय प्रान्तों को ट्रांसफर, कुछ रिजर्व।

D. राष्ट्रीय आंदोलन एवं संवैधानिक विकास

• Simon Commission, Nehru Report, Round Table Conferences — राष्ट्रीय नेतृत्व और ब्रिटेन के बीच बातचीत।

• GOI Act, 1935: संविधान के कई तत्त्वों का रूपरेखा — प्रान्तीय स्वायतता, संघीय ढांचा, आरबीआई, PSC आदि। यह 1950 के संविधान का महत्वपूर्ण प्रारूप बन गया।

E. स्वतंत्रता की तैयारियाँ

• WWII के बाद Cabinet Mission (1946) → Constituent Assembly का प्रस्ताव।

• Indian Independence Act, 1947 → भारत और पाकिस्तान बने; बिल्डिंग ब्लॉक्स अब स्वतंत्र भारतीय नेतृत्व के पास आए।

🔹 Important Acts / Events — Table (Exam-oriented)

(हिन्दी तालिका — ऊपर वाली तालिका का हिन्दी सिर्फ़ शब्दार्थ वही है)

🔹 Flowchart / Mindmap (text) — English

Company Rule → Regulating Act 1773 → Pitt’s Act 1784 → Charter Acts (1813/1833/1853) → Revolt 1857 → GOI Act 1858 (Crown Rule) → Councils Acts → Morley-Minto 1909 → Montagu-Chelmsford 1919 → Simon/Nehru Report/Round Tables → GOI Act 1935 (Blueprint) → WWII/Quit India → Cabinet Mission 1946 → Constituent Assembly → Independence 1947 → Drafting → Constitution 1950.

🔹 फ्लोचार्ट — हिन्दी

कंपनी शासन → Regulating Act 1773 → Pitt’s Act 1784 → Charter Acts → 1857 विद्रोह → GOI Act 1858 (क्राउन शासन) → Councils Acts → Morley-Minto 1909 → Montagu-Chelmsford 1919 → Simon/Nehru Report → GOI Act 1935 → Cabinet Mission 1946 → संविधान सभा → 1947 स्वतंत्रता → संविधान ड्राफ्ट → 1950 लागू।

🔹 Story / Analogy to remember — Bilingual (simple)

English: Think of India's constitutional history as renovating an old mansion. The Company built the first rooms (Regulating Act). The Crown changed the owners and rewired the building. Every reform Act was like adding a new wing or a plumbing change. The 1935 Act was a detailed blueprint. After independence, Indian architects (Constituent Assembly) tore down some parts, modified others, and finally opened the mansion as a modern house (Constitution) in 1950.

हिन्दी: कल्पना करो कि संविधान का इतिहास एक पुरानी हवेली की मरम्मत जैसा है। कंपनी ने पहली दीवारें बनाई, क्राउन ने मालिक बदल दिए और व्यवस्था बदली। हर सुधार अधिनियम एक नया पंखा, नया कमरा जोड़ने जैसा था। 1935 का अधिनियम पूरा खाका दे गया। स्वतंत्रता के बाद भारतीय वास्तुकारों (संविधान सभा) ने हवेली को आधुनिक रूप दिया और 1950 में नया घर खोल दिया — संविधान।

🔹 Exam tips / Keywords — English + हिन्दी

• Remember: GOI Act 1935 = Most important blueprint. — 1935 अधिनियम प्रमुख

• Keywords: Regulating Act 1773, 1857 Revolt, 1858 Crown Rule, Montagu-Chelmsford 1919, Morley-Minto 1909, Simon Commission, Cabinet Mission 1946.

• Concepts: Dyarchy, Separate Electorates, Provincial Autonomy, Federal framework, Residuary Powers.

2️⃣ MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION — English & हिन्दी (गहन — deep)

🔹 Quick definition — English

Making of the Constitution refers to the entire process (1946–1950) in which the Constituent Assembly drafted, discussed, revised and adopted the Constitution of India — a written document that established India as a sovereign democratic republic.

🔹 त्वरित परिभाषा — हिन्दी

संविधान निर्माण से तात्पर्य 1946–1950 की उस प्रक्रिया से है जिसमें संविधान सभा ने संविधान का मसौदा तैयार किया, उस पर बहस की, संशोधन किए और अंततः संविधान को अपनाया।

🔹 How the Constituent Assembly came into being — English (deep)

1. Source & Composition

• Cabinet Mission Plan (May 1946): Proposed an indirectly elected Constituent Assembly. Members were to be elected by Provincial Legislative Assemblies by proportional representation. Princely States and Chief Commissioner provinces had nominated representation.

• Original strength: 389 members (292 elected from provinces, 93 from princely states, 4 chief-commissioner provinces). After Partition many seats vacated → 299. (284 members present on final day.)

2. Key dates

• First meeting: 9 Dec 1946 (Sachchidananda Sinha temporary head).

• Nehru’s Objective Resolution: 13 Dec 1946 — outlining aims and guiding principles (this later became the basis for Preamble).

• Drafting Committee constituted: 29 Aug 1947 (Chair: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar).

• Draft published: Feb 1948.

• Adopted: 26 Nov 1949.

• Came into force: 26 Jan 1950.

3. Important personalities

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: Chairman, Drafting Committee — principal architect of many provisions.

• Dr. Rajendra Prasad: President of the Constituent Assembly.

• B.N. Rau: Constitutional Advisor — prepared an initial draft model.

• Nehru, Patel, K.M. Munshi, Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, H.C. Mukherjee, S. Varadarajan, etc. — important members.

4. Committees & Working Method
Constituent Assembly worked through specialised committees. Important ones:

• Drafting Committee (Chair: Ambedkar) — prepared final text.

• Union Powers Committee — distribution of powers between Centre & States.

• Provincial Constitution Committee — provincial structure.

• Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights — framed rights & limitations.

• Minorities, Tribal & Excluded Areas Committee — safeguards for minorities/tribal.

• Steering Committee, Rules of Procedure Committee, House Committee — procedural and administrative.

5. Drafting process

• B.N. Rau prepared a preliminary draft (influenced by many constitutions).

• Drafting Committee studied Rau’s draft, incorporated inputs from committees and debates, and produced the final draft.

• Debates: Extensive — on language, fundamental rights vs. directive principles, centre-state relations, citizenship, minority safeguards, emergency provisions, judicial review, and more. Thousands of amendments were proposed; many were debated and some accepted.

🔹 संविधान निर्माण — हिन्दी (विस्तार से)

1. सभा का गठन

• Cabinet Mission (1946) ने सुझाव दिया कि संविधान सभा का चुनाव प्राविन्सियल असेंब्लियों द्वारा कराया जाए। रियासतों के लिए नामांकन।

• मूल संख्या: 389 — विभाजन के बाद 299। अंतिम दिन 284 उपस्थित थे।

2. मुख्य तारीखें

• पहली बैठक: 9 दिसंबर 1946।

• Objective Resolution (Nehru): 13 दिसंबर 1946 — संविधान के उद्देश्यों का मूल।

• Drafting Committee का गठन: 29 अगस्त 1947 (अध्यक्ष: डॉ. भीमराव अंबेडकर)।

• मसौदा प्रकाशित: फरवरी 1948।

• अपनाया गया: 26 नवम्बर 1949।

• लागू हुआ: 26 जनवरी 1950।

3. प्रमुख व्यक्तित्व

• डॉ. भीमराव अंबेडकर — ड्राफ्टिंग कमेटी के अध्यक्ष, संविधान के मुख्य शिल्पी।

• डॉ. राजेंद्र प्रसाद — संविधान सभा के अध्यक्ष।

• बी.एन. राउ — संवैधानिक सलाहकार, प्रारम्भिक मसौदा तैयार किया।

• अन्य: नेहरू, पटेल, के.एम. मुनी, एल्लाडी कृष्णस्वामी आय्यर आदि।

4. समितियाँ और कार्य-विधि

• विधानसभा ने विषयवार समितियाँ बनाईं — ड्राफ्टिंग, संघीय शक्तियाँ, प्रादेशिक संविधान, मौलिक अधिकार आदि।

• ड्राफ्टिंग कमेटी ने प्रारूप तैयार कर पूर्ण विधानसभा के समक्ष प्रस्तुत किया; विस्तृत बहसें हुईं।

5. मसौदा तैयार करने का तरीका

• राउ का प्रारम्भिक मसौदा → ड्राफ्टिंग कमेटी ने संशोधन व परिशोधन किया → विस्तृत बहसें → अंतिम मसौदा।

• मुद्दे: अधिकार बनाम नीति निर्देशक, केंद्र-राज्य संबंध, नागरिकता, आपातकाल आदि पर कड़े विचार-विमर्श हुए। हजारों संशोधनों का प्रस्ताव आया।

🔹 Working statistics & trivia (useful for exams) — English + हिन्दी

• Duration of drafting: 2 years, 11 months, 18 days (9 Dec 1946 — 26 Nov 1949).
  (समय: 2 वर्ष 11 माह 18 दिन)

• Number of sessions: 11 sessions over this period (total 165 days of sittings).
  (बैठकों की संख्या: 11; कुल 165 बैठकें)

• Proposals & debates: Thousands of amendments and clauses debated (historical records cite 2,000+ amendments proposed and many thousands of clauses discussed).
  (संशोधन/बहसें: 2,000+ संशोधन प्रस्तावित)

• Expenditure: Historical figure often cited ≈ ₹64 lakhs (approx.) for the Assembly’s work.
  (खर्च: लगभग ₹64 लाख)

🔹 Influence / Sources of the Indian Constitution — English + हिन्दी

• United Kingdom: Parliamentary system, Rule of Law, legislative procedure.

• United States: Fundamental Rights (bill of rights), Judicial Review, Independence of Judiciary, impeachment.

• Ireland: Directive Principles of State Policy.

• Canada: Federal structure (division of powers), residuary powers allocation.

• Australia / Weimar / France / Japan — elements like Concurrent List, emergency provisions and administrative details borrowed/adapted.

(हिन्दी): UK = संसदीय प्रणाली; US = मौलिक अधिकार और न्यायिक समीक्षा; Ireland = नीति निर्देशक तत्व; Canada = संघीय सिद्धांत। कई देशों के सिद्धांतों का संयोजन किया गया — “क्राफ्टेड / adapted” rather than blind copying.

🔹 Flowchart / Mindmap (text) — Making (English & हिन्दी)

Drafting Process (EN):
Cabinet Mission (1946) → Constituent Assembly formed → Objective Resolution (13 Dec 1946) → Committees formed (Drafting Committee, Advisory Committees, Union/Provincial Committees) → B. N. Rau draft → Drafting Committee (Ambedkar) finalizes → Draft published (Feb 1948) → Detailed debates & amendments → Adopted (26 Nov 1949) → Enforced (26 Jan 1950).

मसौदा प्रक्रिया (हिन्दी):
Cabinet Mission → संविधान सभा → Objective Resolution → समितियाँ → बी.एन. राउ मसौदा → ड्राफ्टिंग कमेटी (अंबेडकर) → मसौदा प्रकाशित → बहसें & संशोधन → 26 नवम्बर 1949 (अपनाया) → 26 जनवरी 1950 (लागू).

🔹 Story / Analogy to remember — Bilingual

English (cricket analogy — memorable):
Imagine organising a national cricket tournament for 500 teams with no fixed rules. The Cabinet Mission appointed provisional organizers (Constituent Assembly). The Objective Resolution was like a tournament mission (fair play, equality). B.N. Rau prepared the first rulebook. The Drafting Committee (Ambedkar = head umpire) refined the rules after consulting captains (committees). After months of trials and debates the final rulebook was accepted (26 Nov 1949) and used from the next season (26 Jan 1950).

हिन्दी (घर/मकान analogy):
मान लो आपके पास एक पुरानी जमीन है जिस पर कई सालों में अलग-अलग लोग मकान बनाते गए। स्वतंत्रता के बाद, लोगों ने मिलकर नई, सुरक्षित और आधुनिक इमारत बनाने का निश्चय किया। Constituent Assembly ने प्लान बनाया, विशेषज्ञ (B.N. Rau) ने पहला नक्शा तैयार किया, और डॉ. अंबेडकर की टीम ने सभी सुझाव जोड़कर अंतिम नक्शा तैयार किया — और 26 जनवरी 1950 को नया घर (संविधान) बनकर तैयार हुआ।

🔹 Exam-oriented Quick-Recall Box — Bilingual (IMPORTANT)

• Constituent Assembly first met: 9 Dec 1946. — संविधान सभा: 9 दिसंबर 1946।

• Objective Resolution (Nehru): 13 Dec 1946. — ऑब्जेक्टिव रेज़ोल्यूशन: 13 दिसंबर 1946।

• Drafting Committee formed: 29 Aug 1947 (Chair: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar). — ड्राफ्टिंग कमेटी: 29 अगस्त 1947।

• Adopted: 26 Nov 1949. — अपनाया गया: 26 नवम्बर 1949।

• Came into force: 26 Jan 1950 (Republic Day). — लागू हुआ: 26 जनवरी 1950।

• Original members: 389 → after Partition 299 (final present 284). — सदस्य: 389 → 299।

• Time taken: 2 yrs 11 months 18 days. — समय लिया: 2 वर्ष 11 माह 18 दिन।

• Father of Constitution: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. — संविधान के पितामह: डॉ. भीमराव अंबेडकर।

• Key source: Government of India Act, 1935 (blueprint). — प्रमुख स्रोत: GOI Act 1935।

Final note — practical tip for revision (दो लाइनें)

• EN: Memorize the dates and names of key committees/people. Understand why GOI Act 1935 mattered — that gives you analytical points in essays/answers.

• HI: तारीखें और प्रमुख समितियाँ / व्यक्तियों को याद रखें — और समझें कि 1935 Act क्यों अहम था — यह निबंधों में बेहतर अंक दिलाएगा।